On Friday, April 24, the Yale College Democrats traveled to Hartford to lobby the legislature in support of HB 6600, a bill that would establish the SustiNet universal health care system in Connecticut.

The Dems first heard from Lynne Ide, the healthcare4every1 campaign manager, and Kevin Lembo, the Head of Connecticut’s Office of the Healthcare Advocate. They both spoke about the importance of fighting for universal health care, right now, in our own state. Next, state Reps. Gary Holder-Winfield and Elizabeth Esty. They talked more specifically about how we can be effective advocates for SustiNet when we meet with legislators. Finally, Speaker of the House Chris Donovan expressed his support for health care reform and gave us words of encouragement.

After the event, students fanned out across the state house to meet with legislators and distribute literature to aides. Directly and via aides, we contacted over one hundred representatives and senators, including state representatives Martin Looney, Gary Holder- Winfield, David McCluskey, Elizabeth Esty, Brendan Sharkey, Mae Flexer, Toni Walker, and state senators Gary LeBeau, Andrew Roraback, and Andrew McDonald.

Joining us at the capitol were members of the Yale Public Health Coalition and the American Medical Student Association, to whom we are grateful for their participation.